Judge rejects call to immediately block Boris Johnson plan to suspend Parliament

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A push to block British Prime Minister Boris Johnson from suspending Parliament amid negotiations over the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union was delayed in court on Friday.

Scottish Judge Raymond Doherty refused to immediately block Johnson’s plan to curtail Parliament’s ability to prevent a no-deal Brexit, The Associated Press reported.

Although the court did not take immediate action, Johnson’s move could still be prevented during a full hearing on the matter Tuesday, the AP reported.

Doherty announced that the hearing would be next week, after it had previously been planned for Sept. 6.{mosads}

Lawmakers from both parties seeking to expand the Brexit debate period brought the case. Other cases in Northern Ireland and London against the action are also in process. 

Johnson said he worried that if there was a belief that the country’s exit from the European Union could be halted, the country might not get a deal. 

“I’m afraid that the more our friends and partners think, at the back of their mind, that Brexit could be stopped, that the U.K. could be kept in by Parliament, the less likely they are to give us the deal that we need,” Johnson told Sky News.

Queen Elizabeth II this week approved Johnson’s request to suspend Parliament

The royal court said in a statement Wednesday that Parliament will be “prorogued” beginning Sept. 9 until Oct. 14, giving lawmakers just 17 days to negotiate a Brexit deal before the Oct. 31 deadline. 

Johnson’s political opponents slammed the decision.

“I am appalled at the recklessness of Johnson’s government, which talks about sovereignty and yet is seeking to suspend Parliament to avoid scrutiny of its plans for a reckless no deal Brexit,” Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said. 

Johnson has been one of the staunchest supporters of Brexit and has said the country will leave the EU with or without a deal. 

Tags Brexit British parliament United Kingdom

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